No matter how great the expectations are on Bears rookie quarterback Caleb Williams — and how wholeheartedly he has embraced and escalated them — he might need a little time to get rolling. That was the case in a preseason game Saturday against the Bengals, and it was well worth the wait. After failing to get a first down on the first three possessions, Williams ignited the offense with deep shots downfield near the end of the first half.
The best of them was a beautiful ball down the left sideline to wide receiver Rome Odunze for 45 yards on his fifth possession. Williams dropped back, looked right, then spun to his left for a clear view. He spotted Odunze a step behind cornerback Josh Newton and sailed the ball on the run, throwing off one leg with a little hop and placing it perfectly for an over-the-shoulder catch.
''It was amazing,'' wide receiver DJ Moore said. ''You could see why he was the No. 1 overall pick just with that.
''It's just him going out there balling. He makes it look effortless.'' General manager Ryan Poles talked before the draft about sorting quarterbacks into categories of artists and surgeons, and Williams painted a whimsically compelling abstract piece down the street from the Art Institute.
That was a pass Justin Fields couldn't make. Neither could Mitch Trubisky or anyone else the Bears have sent out there in their recent parade of quarterback misadventures. It was more reminiscent of a longtime nemesis, and Williams dared mention his name when he was asked how he managed to get enough power and accuracy into that pass from such an unconventional platform.
''That's a good question,'' Williams said, pausing as though even he wasn't quite sure. ''It's something that I've worked on in practice and watching Aaron Rodgers. I know he was a Green Bay guy — sorry, guys — but he can do unbelievable things.
''Just practicing it over time, perfecting it. There's gonna be times I don't put it exactly where I..
. Jason Lieser.
